Thanks to an unfortunate injury, Glenn Robinson III had quite a unique season. Let’s look back on his year and see what comes next for the young wing.
After the 2016-17 season, reigning dunk champion Glenn Robinson III missed 59 games this season due to left high ankle sprain that required surgery. Although Victor Oladipo, Robinson’s teammate, could not defend the dunk champion title, GRIII began a return to the court after missing nearly five months.
Rejoining the squad very late in the season, playing time came and went for GRIII. He only played around 14.7 minutes a night and only shot three to four times a game. Glenn played in every game once he returned, but the minutes per night varied greatly.
All that actualized a weird season for Robinson III. Let’s use our time machine to glance back at the season GR3 had and look to the future to see what is next for him.
The return of Glenn Robinson III
Glenn Robinson III spent his first two games back on an assignment with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants. Robinson ultimately made his return against the Atlanta Hawks on February 28th. Although he only shot 2/6 from the field, Bankers Life Fieldhouse erupted with applause every time the loudspeaker announced his name.
GR3 remained in a bench role for the rest of the season. He averaged about 14 minutes a game. Robinson had his first start of the year in the last game of the season and shot 75 percent from downtown that night. He tied his season high with 13 points. He finally showed some flashes of the shooter and attacker we saw him be in seasons past.
Glenn saw limited minutes in the playoffs, as Nate McMillan went to a shorter rotation. In the season prior, Robinson made the playoff rotation and appeared in three playoff games. Now a season later, GR3 was left out of a playoff rotation that featured very little wing depth. The injury hindered Glenn for most of the season and when he finally did make his return, he was a bit too late. Only returning with 23 games to play in the regular season most likely led to Robinson being left out of the playoff rotation. But if Robinson III is fully healthy next season, things could be different.
What’s next for Glenn Robinson III?
As we look ahead to next season, Robinson’s future is unknown. He hits unrestricted free agency this summer. In the league today, I would not be surprised if someone offered him more than the Pacers were willing to.
Three-and-D guys like Robinson will fit with almost every team in the league. GRIII will most likely have several options in free agency because of this. I believe he will stay with the Pacers for the future. Glenn is in a role that suits him. After coming back from injury he remains the backup small forward for the upcoming season. With his full return, Coach Nate McMillan will be able to go to a deeper and larger rotation for the upcoming season. That is of course if Robinson re-signs. Returning from injury and playing very little this year it would not shock me if the Pacers offered him a small deal for the next couple years. A two-year, $5 million dollar deal is what I think should bring GR3 back to Indiana.
Robinson may hit the free agent market in search of playing time or his first big payday. His wants may not match what the Pacers plan for him. But he accumulated all of his value as a player in Indiana, so sticking around is certainly a possibility for GR3.
A gif to describe Glenn Robinson III season
I think it is fair to say this was everyone’s reaction when they heard the news that Robinson was injured and would require surgery. The dude had worked so hard and stolen the hearts of fans the year before. It wasn’t fair. Hopefully, things work out and GR3 stays in Indiana.
Who knows the future for Robinson
Nobody knows what is next for Robinson. We already talked about what type of deal he may fetch, but whether or not GR3 wants to stay is up to him. Returning from an injury will be a tough road for anyone, but Glenn still has a long way to go to prove himself as a consistent role player in the league.
Next: 2017-18 Player Review: Victor Oladipo
Although it was a short season for GR3, it was an important one. Bouncing back from an injury, Glenn was able to play for about a quarter of the season. While not playing much, it was clear that Robinson had begun to reconnect with the court again at the season’s conclusion. Free agency will be tempting for Glenn and the direction he wants to take will quickly be shown. I hope the best for Robinson, and hopefully, he decides to continue his time with the Indiana Pacers.